Nichols V WWTP and SD - Projected Secondary Treatment Plant in Village of Nichols, New York

Nichols V WWTP and SD is a planned wastewater treatment facility located at 10 East River Road in the Village of Nichols, Tioga County, New York. Designed to serve a population of 1,500, the plant will provide secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. The facility's designed capacity is 757.08 m³/day, aligning with the needs of a small community. As a projected facility, Nichols V WWTP and SD will operate under the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which regulates discharges to surface waters. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting federal effluent guidelines. The plant's construction and operation will be subject to state-level oversight by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The plant will discharge treated effluent into a receiving water body within the Susquehanna River basin, which ultimately flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary of ecological significance, supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. The plant's discharge will be regulated to protect downstream water quality and the bay's sensitive ecosystem.

The plant will discharge into a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which flows south through Pennsylvania and into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, supporting a rich ecosystem of fish, crabs, and waterfowl. Nutrient and pollutant loads from upstream sources are a key concern for bay health, making the plant's secondary treatment and NPDES permit critical for protecting downstream water quality.